Women’s voices are too often ignored in decisions that shape their lives.
FiLiA’s new Campaigns and Policy Team is here to change that.
We are working with grassroots activists, local communities and national policymakers to ensure women are heard, respected and represented in every space where policy is made.
Together, we’re building power, shaping legislation and driving change.
Women have long called for FiLiA to help amplify their voices in local and national policy spaces. They’ve told us – clearly and consistently – that their concerns are being sidelined and too often, deliberately ignored by those in power.
In 2024, we conducted extensive research to identify the issues which are most pressing for women:
Male violence, poverty and the cost of living, health, racism and the right to organise and be politically active.
Our findings confirm what women already know – policies are failing to reflect their lives, needs and experiences. Our report on this, Making Policy Work for Women, was launched at our Parliamentary reception on 19th November 2025 – read the report below.
Scroll down to read, or click the arrow icon in the top right to open into a PDF reader.
FiLiA’s new Campaigns and Policy Team is here to change that. We’re working to ensure women are not just consulted, but actively involved in shaping the policies that affect them.
Because when women are part of the process, policy and legislation is better-made,
better-targeted and better-delivered.
We’ll hold the government to account – making sure existing obligations, which support our aims, like the Equality Act 2010 and Public Sector Equality Duty are upheld. And we’ll work directly with policymakers to provide credible evidence and challenge where needed.
“It is indispensable that there is a feminist perspective during these changes. Women struggle with their own specific set of issues around disability and our rights need to be in the centre of those considerations.”
“It’s important that you’re doing this. I have felt excluded by other disabled groups. ”
“This will be useful in holding my local authority to account, and encouraging good practice. I aim to use this to challenge policies on disability.”
The FiLiA Women’s Assembly (FWA) exists to amplify women’s voices – especially those who are marginalised, seldom heard, or deliberately ignored. It’s a space for women to come together and connect, build skills, form networks and take action on the issues that matter most to them.
By joining the Assembly, women receive updates, training opportunities and practical support to help them drive change in their communities. We also make sure their voices are heard in our influencing work with national and local governments. The FWA was formally launched at our Parliamentary reception on 19th November 2025, read the speeches in full here.
Whenever policies affect women, women must have the power to shape them.
The FWA helps make that happen.
FiLiA’s Campaigns and Policy Team works to ensure women are not just considered – but actively involved – whenever policies are developed. When women shape policy, it’s smarter, fairer and more effective.
This section brings together all our campaign resources, with more coming soon, including guides on using data, navigating local government and finding your place in public bodies.
We currently offer tailored resources for England, Wales and Scotland, where we’ve held FiLiA conferences previously and in line with our Legacy City approach. While FiLiA is not yet active in Northern Ireland, we’ve included general materials that may still be useful.
England
Campaigners toolkit – understanding the PSED in England
And coming soon…
Specific duties compared – England/Scotland/Wales
PSED FOI request template England
PSED Compliance letter template – England
Campaigners PSED checklist – England
FiLiA Campaigner’s Toolkit – Understanding EqIAs in England
And coming soon…
EqIA step by step guide – England
Equality questions to email – England
Campaigners EqIA checklist – England
Useful data sources – England
Challenging negative responses – England
Scotland
Campaigners toolkit - understanding the PSED in Scotland
And coming soon…
Specific duties compared - England/Scotland/Wales
PSED FOI request template - Scotland
PSED compliance letter template Scotland
Campaigners PSED checklist - Scotland
Campaigners toolkit – understanding EqIAs in Scotland
And coming soon…
EqIA step by step guide – Scotland
Equality questions to email – Scotland
Campaigners EqIA checklist – Scotland
Useful data sources – Scotland
Challenging negative responses – Scotland
Wales
Campaigners toolkit - understanding the PSED in Wales
And coming soon…
Specific duties compared - England/Scotland/Wales
PSED FOI request template - Wales
PSED compliance letter template - Wales
Campaigners PSED checklist - Wales
Campaigners toolkit – understanding EqIAs in Wales
And coming soon…
EqIA step by step guide – Wales
Equality questions to email – Wales
Campaigners EqIA checklist – Wales
Useful data sources – Wales
Challenging negative responses – Wales
Department for Work and Pensions welfare reform proposals (2025) – informed by focus groups we held for women across Britain.
Office for Equality and Opportunity call for evidence on the equality law (2025)
Equality and Human Rights Commission proposed changes to the code of practice following the UK Supreme Court ruling on the definition of sex (2025)
This blog sets out why equality impact assessments are an underrated tool for change.
Open letter to the Minister for Women and Equalities in support of Dr Mary-Ann Stephenson’s appointment as next Chair of the Equality and Human Rights Commission (2025).
FiLiA’s Briefing for MPs on International Women’s Day, seeking support from them in our call for better consideration of women in policy making (2025).
FiLiA’s response to the Bertin Review on regulating pornography (2025).
FiLiA's letters to both the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) and the Welsh Government in response to the EHRC’s formal enforcement action concerning serious failures in the Welsh Government’s compliance with the Public Sector Equality Duty (PSED). The EHRC identified significant shortcomings in how the Welsh Government conducts Equality Impact Assessments and engages with those affected by its decisions.
FiLiA’s Parliamentary briefing on local government and women’s equality reveals widespread failures by councils in key UK cities to meet their equality duties to women, with poor data, weak assessments and limited attention to sex-based inequality. We have urged Parliamentarians to demand stronger accountability and ensure women’s needs are properly addressed in local policy.
Where to look for opportunities to be heard in your area [1] , which will help you to find opportunities to speak up on areas and issues that matter to you. The FiLiA newsletter and the consultations page have links to open consultations.
FiLiA’s Campaigns and Policy Team is led by our Head of Policy, who brings 13 years of civil service experience in strategy and policy. Alongside our Public Affairs Lead, she engages directly with government, Parliament and the wider women’s movement to build FiLiA’s influence in political spaces.
The FiLiA Women’s Assembly (FWA) connects grassroots campaigners, activists, and all women who want to be heard. Through national training and events, we help women build confidence, skills and networks to create real change in their communities. Our FWA Lead brings deep experience in community activism and local government.
We also support women to engage with local government, identifying opportunities for involvement in consultations and policy change. Our expert in this area has worked across both local and European government systems.
With decades of experience in campaigning and communications, our team helps women build and amplify their own campaigns – ensuring their voices reach decision-makers through strategic media and digital platforms.
The team also contributes to FiLiA’s wider work, including on male violence against women and anti-racism.
If you are a policy maker and would like to find out how we can help you with evidence, case studies or support with consultations, please contact: kruti@filia.org.uk
If you are interested in getting involved with the FiLiA Women’s Assembly, whether or not you are already part of a women’s group, please click here for more information, or email womensassembly@filia.org.uk
If you would like us to speak at an event, or provide other support or information, please contact info@filia.org.uk
If you are interested in FiLiA’s work more generally, you can sign up for the newsletter here.
We know that women’s differing needs and lives are not being recognised in policies and processes, and that we continue to live in a male-dominated and male-served society.
FiLiA is working with women to help support them to make their voices heard in national and local policy forums.
Every week we highlight consultations in the newsletter and on our website so you can access your right to have your say.
